A synonym is a word that means the same, or almost the same thing, as another word.
4
votes
2answers
122 views
“had me a blast” - what use of “have” is it?
Reading the Summer love lyrics, the lyrics go as follows: "summer love, had me a blast". I know that "have a blast" means to enjoy etc. But I do not think I could say "it has me a blast".
-1
votes
3answers
114 views
A situation when you do too many thing but achieve nothing [closed]
I am looking for few nouns describing "a situation when one does too many things but achieve nothing important or useful".
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Word for “credit stealer”
While reading the novel "One night at call center", I came across this:
He's such a loser who steals credit of others.
Viroom, we must teach a lesson to this credit stealer.
Now, I just want ...
7
votes
1answer
153 views
Which word is used more in the UK: 'gaol' or 'jail'?
I know both words share the same meaning and pronunciation, but I wonder about their comparative usage in modern English.
5
votes
3answers
965 views
Adjective describing a person who does work to get it done
I have a friend who always goes on that I have a bad work ethic, though I am not lazy. At the same time, he says he has a good work ethic, but is lazy.
The definition of having a good work ethic is ...
2
votes
5answers
459 views
Single word for one-sided friendship
I am looking for a single word to describe a one-sided friendship.
5
votes
1answer
181 views
Why is 'allopathy' not an accepted synonym for 'mainstream medicine'?
According to Wikipedia,
Allopathic medicine and allopathy (from the Greek prefix ἄλλος, állos, "other", "different" + the suffix πάϑος, páthos, "suffering") are terms coined in the early 19th ...
1
vote
3answers
113 views
alternatives for “leveraging”
Some people frown upon the use of "leveraging" in formal writing. What would be a good alternative to the expression:
We will be able to investigate X leveraging from the knowledge of
Y.
None ...
0
votes
3answers
71 views
Synonyms for 'extra' (noun)
Recently I came across the word 'extra' in following meaning: "a person engaged temporarily to fill out a crowd scene in a film or play".
I have a strong feeling that there should be some ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
Redeeming, sort of. Need a better word!
My site has a feature where users can buy, or they can obtain a code that will allow someone else to buy it for them.
The part of the page that lets the buyer input the code and gift the item to the ...
1
vote
1answer
303 views
What is the difference between “synergistic” and “synergetic”?
What is the difference between "synergistic" and "synergetic"? I believe they both speak of the cooperation of multiple things to produce an output, but how do they differ?
3
votes
6answers
256 views
Word or phrase to refer to self-employed professionals working from home in the UK?
Other than homeworkers (which is vague), freelancers (which is, to my knowledge, US-specific, and non-exclusive to this), what other words do self-employed people working from home describe ...
2
votes
3answers
336 views
Word or phrase to describe an activity that is “used to pass time”
Aside from pastime, what is a word or phrase that can be used to describe an activity that is not pleasurable and used only as a diversion while letting time pass?
2
votes
3answers
151 views
Single-word synonym for “immensely valuable”?
I am looking for some (may be rarely know to nonnative English speakers) synonyms for "immensely valuable" or "extremely valuable".
1
vote
3answers
172 views
Difference between waste and squander
What is the difference between the verbs to squander and to waste? For example:
to squander money
to waste money
3
votes
3answers
183 views
Lexically recognized synonym for “humblebrag”?
As one might guess, a humblebrag is one who uses a pretense of humility as a vehicle for boasting. This word can be found at Urban Dictionary but, it appears, nowhere more authoritative. Yet, of ...
5
votes
2answers
215 views
Can supper and dinner be used interchangeably? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Lunch” vs. “dinner” vs. “supper” — times and meanings?
Wikipedia states that the words supper and dinner can be used interchangeably. But I am not thoroughly convinced ...
3
votes
5answers
126 views
Synonym for “engrooved”
Engrooved isn't a word, so I'm looking for something that carries its meaning. Engraved, accustomed, and other synonyms don't express the same meaning. I'm looking for a word that carries the meaning ...
-2
votes
1answer
359 views
Word pairs that are both synonyms and antonyms [closed]
The words "catholic" and "parochial" are synonyms or near-synonyms meaning "pertaining to the Catholic Church" (e.g., a parochial school is a Catholic school) but they're antonyms in a different ...
3
votes
6answers
346 views
Synonym for “godchild” without religious connotation
In English is there a synonym for "godchild" (or the gender-specific versions) without a religious connotation but without necessarily having other specific connotations?
All the words I'm coming up ...
2
votes
3answers
705 views
What's another word for Guinea Pig, i.e. when you call someone a “test dummy”?
If someone is being used to test a new product or idea, they can be called a "guinea pig" (because Guinea Pigs are usually used by medical labs for testing).
What is another term that would carry the ...
-1
votes
5answers
78 views
Alternative for “seats” in expressions such as “40% of the total seats are reserved for students of backward cast”
All of the leading educational institutes have 60% of their seats reserved for students of backward castes. It is a fairly common expression and a sad fact in India.
What would be an alternative to ...
3
votes
6answers
146 views
Is there a single word for a document containing an individual's contact information?
I'm looking for a single noun to indicate a document (or web page) that contains a person's contact information (phone, email, etc.).
The context is a navigation element on a personal website, for ...
3
votes
5answers
330 views
What is the word for “stepping stone” if it is used in a derogatory sense?
I checked the meaning of stepping stone in a dictionary, it was
a means of progress
What would be the word for stepping stone if I want to use it in a negative sense? For example,
He used ...
2
votes
3answers
161 views
Alternatives to the noun 'dump' (as in “a data dump”)
What are alternatives to the noun 'dump' (as in "a data dump")?
The word dump here refers to the data that gets dumped, in other words, to the mass of what is being dumped. Another not-so-common ...
3
votes
3answers
160 views
Alternate ways to say someone is grumpy
My manager is a pretty moody woman. Whenever she feels annoyed or doesn't like what you are doing, she would show her displeasure on her face right away. By reading her face, you would know ...
5
votes
3answers
151 views
Better term to put on a label of a bottle of milk to describe that it's 'made' in a particular geographic location
While waiting for the kettle to boil this morning, I was idling and reading the label on the bottle of milk and was struck by the declaration: "Permeate free, made in WA". Here's a shot of the label ...
4
votes
3answers
139 views
Word meaning: “to make one reconsider”
I am looking for a one-word synonym (or short phrase) meaning "to make one reconsider" or "to make one rethink". This would be used in the context of explaining how an event makes one step back and ...
2
votes
4answers
159 views
“Dabbler”, without the negative connotation
According to dictionary, a dabbler is "an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge".
I want a word that means a person genuinely interested in ...
5
votes
2answers
398 views
What is the difference between partial and total synonyms?
I am really confused with these terms. In my notes from lexicology lectures, partial synonyms are words which differ in emotional colouring, valency, style, or grammar. In some cases, I can’t see ...
3
votes
7answers
270 views
“Crack” as a positive noun?
Some Spanish speakers use the word crack as a positive noun. For example:
Lionel Messi es un crack del football!
Is it the same in English? Can I say: You're a crack?
6
votes
3answers
253 views
Alternatives for “conducted” with respect to research
Literature review is a big part of my life. I usually use “[Scientist] conducted a research using data from” to state a previous study.
Do you have recommendations of other verbs to use? I am tired ...
9
votes
2answers
174 views
A word that describes “false sense of knowing”
Is there a word that describes someone having a false sense of knowing?
In other words, one believes he knows X, but X isn't true.
Here is an example sentence:
However, consent forms give ...
2
votes
4answers
701 views
Alternative to “as-well-as” for an academic paper
Is there some better alternative to phrase as well as for an academic writing? It sounds to me too informal.
The whole sentence is:
Improvements of both parts are possible as well as joining ...
1
vote
0answers
475 views
“Particular” vs. “specific” [closed]
The Free Dictionary lists particular and specific as synonyms, but there still seems to be a subtle distinction between the two. What is that distinction?
In a phrase along the lines of:
the ...
2
votes
2answers
212 views
What is another way of saying “less premium?”
I'm looking for another way to say "less premium." This is the context:
The competition's brand was less premium.
I do not want to change the overall structure of the sentence. This is not a ...
15
votes
15answers
1k views
Specific verb for “training an apprentice”?
Does a specific verb exist for the process of passing on information or skills including the passing of responsibilities between an experienced worker and a new one? The verb train is too general, as ...
0
votes
2answers
268 views
What is the courteous alternative of “Do you understand what I say?”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Does it make sense?” or “Do you understand me?”?
"Do you get me?", "Do you get my point?", etc?
What is the courteous alternative of "Do you understand what I say?"?
8
votes
6answers
547 views
A better word for invigilator, a person overseeing an exam
I'm issuing a written final exam to a student in Nepal. In setting this up I need to communicate to a non native speaking person in the abroad administration, in a clear and precise manner, that a ...
1
vote
2answers
504 views
Is there such a thing as an idiom thesaurus that delivers synonym phrases? [closed]
Is there a resource that anyone knows of that is the equivalent of a number of phrases that mean the same thing? Perhaps called a "phrase thesaurus" or "idiom thesaurus" or "phrase synonyms" for ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the difference between “rooster” vs. “cock” and “hen” vs. “chicken”?
When I was small and started to study English, I had pictures labelled cock, hen and chicken.
Now when I search the net for pictures to show my children, I see the same pictures, but this time they ...
-1
votes
3answers
151 views
Is “increment” perfectly synonymous with “increase”? [closed]
My advisor replaced all the occurrences of "increment" with "increase" in one of my papers. Is it true that "increment" can always be replaced with "increase"? If not, please show me some examples.
1
vote
2answers
390 views
Constraint vs. Restriction
I've seen constraint and restriction used quite often in scientific literature.
For example,
This algorithm needs to be further improved due to severe space
constraint and restriction.
I ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
When does “part” mean “quarter”?
‘Behind us in the caves of the Deep are three parts of the folk of Westfold, old and young, children and women,’ said Gamling. ‘But great store of food, and many beasts and their ...
-2
votes
1answer
108 views
Way of / means of / manner / style [closed]
What are the typical use cases for
Way of (the way of living)
Style (style of clothing)
Mean of (means of transport)
Manner (In which manner do you use this words)
In parens, there are examples ...
5
votes
1answer
248 views
Reason vs. purpose
Just now I wanted to explain why I was doing something, then I wrote "the purpose of doing something is blablabla". Immediately I wondered why I didn't write "the reason of doing something is ...
1
vote
3answers
259 views
Higher status alternatives to the word 'intern'?
Are there higher status (or at least 'better-sounding', more CV-ready) alternatives to the word 'intern'? At least in the UK, being an intern is perceived as low status, with connotations of being the ...
-3
votes
1answer
471 views
What does “evaluate” mean when used in Mathematical problems? [closed]
When solving Mathematical problems, I usually come across with titles like:
Evaluate the expression below.
Evaluate this: ∜[(log2(48 / 3) + 1)2 - 9]
Evaluate the following integral.
When I ...
-1
votes
1answer
115 views
Can this 'aboard' be replaced by 'onboard'? [closed]
If the aboard is postposed, can it be replaced by onboard and have the same meaning?
“a jetliner with 93 people aboard”
(This is from an English-Korean dictionary and has no full sentence.)
0
votes
1answer
89 views
How do you call the part of a crystal that was cut of from a larger crystal?
The semiconductor industry calls the cuts of a crystal die or dice. Is this term outside of semiconducting industries correct too?
For example, a crystal has been cut into small plates. What are the ...
